Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test
Last updated 19 April 2012
19 April 2012 - We have introduced an assessment option for applicants who have an outstanding work experience requirement on their QLTR certificates of eligibility. View more information
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test replaced by Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme
The Legal Services Board approved the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme Regulations 2010. The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations (QLTR) and Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) were replaced by the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) on 1 September 2010. From this date, we only accept application forms for QLTS certificates of eligibility.
Introduction
The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations (QLTR) allow certain overseas lawyers and other UK qualified lawyers to become qualified as solicitors in England and Wales.
Applicants who applied before the scheme closed on 31 August 2010 will have been issued with a certificate of eligibility that will require them to pass certain heads of the QLTT and/or complete a period of work experience before they can apply for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales:
- Pass the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT); and/or
- Satisfy a two-year legal experience requirement (which includes experience of practising the law of England and Wales). Please note that your experience must be post call/admission, unless it forms part of a regulated training scheme to enable you to be admitted in your home jurisdiction.
Please note, the primary jurisdiction applies to applications made under Regulation 10.
Transitional arrangements
You have time left on your QLTT certificate of eligibility
You can sit the QLTT and/or meet the work experience requirements up to the expiry date of your QLTT certificate of eligibility. If your QLTT certificate of eligibility expires after 1 September 2010 and you have not met all the requirements, you must make a fresh application for a QLTS certificate of eligibility and take the new QLTS assessments. QLTT results you have already achieved cannot be carried over or carry any weight in the QLTS.
We are inviting existing QLTT providers to seek reauthorisation to continue to offer the tests until 2013. However, you should contact a provider as soon as you can to arrange to sit the tests.
Experience requirement
Qualified lawyers from outside the European Union are also required to show that they have gained two years' experience of working in legal practice in a common law jurisdiction. At least one year must have been gained by practising the law of England and Wales. Such experience
- must have been undertaken in three areas of common law, and
- must have covered contentious and non-contentious areas of practice.
Find out more about the experience requirement.
Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test
About the test
The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) is a conversion test; it enables lawyers who are qualified in certain jurisdictions outside England and Wales (and barristers of England and Wales) to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.
The test covers four heads (subject areas):
- Head 1 – Property
- Head 2 – Litigation
- Head 3 – Professional conduct and accounts
- Head 4 – Principles of common law
Specification and providers
The SRA sets the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test specification. The assessment is administered exclusively by SRA-authorised test providers. For details of test programmes and venues, you must contact test providers directly when you have received a certificate of eligibility.
Character and suitability
Qualified lawyers are required to show that they are suitable for admission as a solicitor in England and Wales. Download the guidelines that we use to assess character and suitability: Guidelines on the assessment of character and suitability.
Before applying for admission as a solicitor in England and Wales, qualified lawyers are required to obtain a satisfactory standard disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau, which includes details of any current and spent convictions, police cautions, reprimands and final warnings held on the Police National Computer. We also make use of overseas criminal records information services whenever appropriate. Failure to disclose convictions and other issues at the certificate of eligibility stage or subsequently is a serious matter and may result in refusal of your application for admission as a solicitor.
Q&As about the introduction of an assessment option for applicants with Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations (QLTR) certificates of eligibility
1. What is the difference between QLTS (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme) and QLTR (Qualified Lawyers Transfer Regulations)?
QLTR pre-dated the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme, which was introduced in 2010. QLTR closed to new applications on 31 August 2010. Those currently enrolled on QLTR have until the expiry of their certificates of eligibility to complete the SRA's requirements. All certificates will expire by 31 August 2013.
2. Why have you introduced an assessment option for QLTR applicants?
For some applicants, particularly senior lawyers, a work placement which meets the requirements of the QLTR is not a feasible option because it takes them away from their full-time employment. The assessment option provides such candidates with an alternative which can, if the candidate has the requisite knowledge and skills, involve them meeting our requirements in a much shorter time-frame.
3. Can I still fulfil the work experience requirement if I choose to do so?
Yes. But you cannot combine the two options – you must either complete the work experience requirement or the TLST and OSCE.
4. Do I need to tell the SRA if I want to take the assessment option?
No. You just need to contact Kaplan and provide them with your QLTR certificate of eligibility.
5. Who is running the assessments?
Kaplan QLTS. See www.kaplanqlts.com
6. What does the assessment comprise?
You will need to pass both the OSCE (Objective Structure Clinical Examination) and TLST (Technical Legal Skills Test). These assessments combine a test of skills and knowledge of property and probate, civil and criminal litigation and business law.
7. Is the assessment option as rigorous as work experience?
Yes, there is little risk to standards and the public interest in making this change as it provides a robust alternative approach to assessing the competence of these applicants.
8. How often will the assessments run?
They currently run every six months. Please see www.kaplanqlts.com for specific dates.
9. Where is the assessment centre based?
London.
10. How many days do I have to attend the assessment centre?
Each of the TLST and OSCE run over three morning or afternoon sessions. Please see www.kaplanqlts.com for further information.
11. Will I have to pay a fee to carry out the assessment?
Yes, the OSCE costs £2,100 (+VAT) and the TLST costs £825 (+VAT). However, for many candidates it will be a more cost effective and accessible route to admission than undertaking work experience.
12. My certificate of eligibility has expired, can I still take the assessments?
If your certificate has expired since November 2011 (which was when this proposal was first made public) you can apply to us for an extension and we will consider your application on a case by case basis.
13. My certificate of eligibility is due to expire in August 2012 and the next OSCE/TLST round is after this date, what shall I do?
If you want to take the assessment option, please apply to us for an extension and we will consider your application on a case by case basis.
The maximum extension will be until 31 August 2013.
14. I still need to pass some of the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Tests (QLTT) can I still apply for an extension so that I can take the OSCE and TLST?
You will need to apply for an extension in the usual way. Your application for an extension will not be turned down simply because you have QLTT outstanding but you will still need to take the QLTT if that is a requirement of your certificate of eligibility.